1 Osella - Alvise Contarini

The osella was Venice's answer to a gift-giving tradition that predated coinage itself — doges had long distributed wild ducks (uccelli) from the lagoon marshes to members of the Great Council each January 1st, a practice eventually monetized in 1521 under Doge Antonio Grimani. By Alvise Contarini's reign the series had accumulated over 150 years of continuous annual issues, making it one of the longest-running medallic coin traditions in European history. Each year's die was unique, struck in tiny numbers exclusively for distribution at the New Year's audience.

Contarini's dogeship coincided with the aftermath of the catastrophic War of Candia, which ended in 1669 with Venice's final loss of Crete to the Ottomans after a 24-year siege.